Puppeteer who created Clippo...

VIRGINIA AUSTIN CURTIS, 83,

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — VIRGINIA AUSTIN CURTIS, 83, puppeteer who created Clippo the Clown and sculpted for Edgar Bergen the puppet that became Mortimer Snerd, Charlie McCarthy's prime foil, died recently.

Curtis got into puppetry in 1933 after an earthquake caused a tourism decline in Los Angeles and a business slump at her Olvera Street tearoom. She joined the Olvera Street Marionettes, which were going on tour because of the decline in tourism.

She returned to Los Angeles in 1936 and designed Clippo the Clown, which she sold to local department stores and later to Marshall Field's in Chicago. She later sold the rights to Clippo the Clown to Effanbee Doll Co. but regained the manufacturing rights after World War II.

The clown is in limited production today.

Curtis toured with her own puppets in 1938 before establishing a puppet shop in Los Angeles.

Bergen visited the shop to have her sculpt the first head of Elmer Snerd, who later was named Mortimer.